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DUANE GOT THE CAMBRIDGE JOB!! WE DON’T HAVE TO MOVE! YAAAAAY GOD!

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

This is going to be a good year. I won’t let it be anything else. :)

Goals:

1.Get in better shape with even more regular visits to the gym.

2. Get that house emptied. There is so much stuff it’s absurd.

3. Write like a madwoman.

4. Find a way to ease my husband’s physical pain. I still haven’t found one yet. There MUST be something.

5. Read. A LOT. My Old Testament knowledge is definitely slipping.

6. Did I mention write? Madwoman-style?

And that, I think, is a pretty full amount. This doesn’t include potential moving, potential family-caretaking, potential agent-and-or-publishing. See, whether we move, whether family needs care, or whether I find an agent and get published… those things are out of my control. I am only responsible for what is.

Finally understanding that is, I think, the best thing I’ve gotten out of 2009.

For that matter… here’s a fantastic set of questions to ask yourself regarding the last year.

1. If the last year were a movie of your life, what would the genre be?
I fear it would be a chick-flick, but not the romantic kind. No, this would be the kind where the heroine discovers all kinds of things about herself, about life, about her faith and experiences and understanding, suffers absurdly when she doesn’t have to, and finally finds a balance.

2. What were the two or three major themes that kept recurring?
God saying, “Trust me yet? No? Okay, you’ll have to learn the hard way, then.” Giving up attachments to creature comforts. Happiness has nothing to do with physical circumstances. Learning to forgive things I used to excuse because they were too hard to face. Priorities. Even among those whom I love.

3. What did you accomplish this past year that you are the most proud of?
Finally conquering the asthma enough to run again. Finishing Guardian and sending it out into the scary, scary world. Helping friends who needed it. Playing piano in church again at last. Saying “no.”

4. What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for but weren’t?
Saying “no.” Finally being willing to admit I’ve been lied to by someone I love – and then getting over it. Cooking. I don’t think I can ever fully explain how emotionally trying it is every time I pick up a pan.

5. What disappointments or regrets did you experience this past year?
The company Duane poured his soul into basically spit it back at him to save a few dollars. I should have written more. I can write more; too often, I let myself be distracted. I’m still at my wedding weight, but I’m not fit. This is bad.

6. What was missing from last year as you look back?
More time reading the Bible and praying. More time working on my life instead of angsting about things I can’t control.

7. What were the major life-lessons you learned this past year?
Worrying, fretting, freaking out over family and friends making bad decisions doesn’t do a thing but make me miss my own goals. My husband loves what I cook because he loves me. I am a writer. I am also a musician. For the first time, I understand these are not in conflict.

So there you go. I hope your 2009 was as powerful, though hopefully not angst-filled. May 2010 be fantastic.

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

Merry Christmas/ Hannukah/ Kwanzaa, etc.!

We are having such an interesting holiday season. Duane is still jobless, but there are prospects all over the place. The most exciting, currently, are in Cambridge, MA – and Keene, NH.

One job means moving. The other does not.

We are going to be fine whether we move or not. The Keene area is absolutely charming, and has about the same cost of living as we do here, so it won’t be much of an adjustment.

Right now, it just means metaphorically holding breaths until we know if we go. I have to admit – we’re completely at peace with anything that happens. It’s a really, really good feeling.

Writing news: Things are going SO WELL. The post-book-completion-slump has finally passed. The Sundered, Notte, and Steam are all coming along at a pace that pleases me. Steam, in fact, has been completely rewritten, so if you want something new to read, feel free to click for the sample chapter.

Rewritten, I say. Like the wind.

Tonight was one of those nights that reminds me why I’m on Twitter. The brilliant Julie Butcher arranged for editors, authors, and other publishing-type-folk to send white elephant gifts to one another, and then open said gifts together tonight in an online party. Does this rule or does this rule?

MAGICAL RED PEN  from romance author Jennifer Spiller! !!! (It’s a magical pen. Seriously, you must click on this.)

I’ll get a better pic of it later. :D I just love the inspiration this brings. 

Hope you’re all having a great holiday!

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

Hayley’s being released from the hospital. This is good in the sense that she gets to go home, but terrifying in the sense that the doctors simply don’t know what’s wrong with her.

I wish I had more to say than that.

The good news is Duane gets to be there for her birthday on Monday, which is definitely a time for celebration.

Talking about other things now.

Writing has been good this week. I’m thrilled to present a new book, The Sundered, which you can read here: Chapter One. Have a snippet. And links. And other things.

( Snip! )

And lastly, because it’s too funny not to post:

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

My sister-in-law is in the hospital.

She’s seizing uncontrollably. The doctors don’t know why. Even though Duane and I are both currently out of work, we managed to scrape the money together to send him to see her in CA.

If you believe in prayer, please pray. I’m so, so glad Duane could be there with her now.

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

I’m thankful for a husband who rubs my cold hands without being asked.

I’m thankful for friends who encourage me to grow, to learn, to keep thinking, and to keep writing.

I’m thankful for family who loves me and lets me love them, no matter how quirky all of us can be.

I’m thankful my grandma is alive. I’m thankful my dad is alive.

I’m thankful for incredible in-laws who shatter every negative stereotype in-laws have ever inspired.

I’m thankful for a roof over my head, for potential future jobs, for the turkey currently in the oven, and for the fact that we have yet to go hungry.

I’m thankful for my president.

I’m thankful for the liberty to pursue and enjoy my religious convictions.

I’m thankful for life.

And now, in no particular order, a photo montage that feels rather representative of my life this year.

( Photos under cut! )

Happy Thanksgiving. May the road take you wherever you want to go!

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

First of all, long-overdue congrats to Debra Schubert, who has managed to land an agent. I’m thrilled for her, and actually unsurprised – she’s professional, witty, and a terrific writer. It was only a matter of time. Go Debra!

Ironically, there have been a lot of posts lately on why people don’t need an agent. Author Jeaniene Frost, however, rather sums up my feelings on the subject:

Agents play a vital role in publishing and will continue to do so, even in this brave new digital era. The fact that the vast majority of published authors are agented – even mega-successful authors who could scribble a book idea on a napkin and still have editors throw money at them for it – seems to illustrate the point that an agent’s value lies in more than making a sale or reading contracts.

I really don’t want to end up where my father did, thanks – he went unagented, and the publishers raked him over the coals with legal loopholes on just about every book he published.

However, it’s important to remember that your dreams are not in the hands of these editors and agents and scary people. Our dreams are on OUR hands, as Editorial Anonymous says so well. This is very valuable advice. It means rejections won’t make you quit.

Of course, that doesn’t mean waiting isn’t hard (as Nathan Bransford now knows personally, bwahaha.) But hey, if waiting and rejections aren’t your thing, then there is a solution. BEHOLD THE KEY TO NO MORE REJECTIONS EVER. (Does that Janet Reid know what she’s talking about, or what?)

I see it over and over again from authors, agents, and editors: the key to getting published is a refusal to quit. This doesn’t mean refusing to learn, or refusing to hone your craft, or refusing to listen to constructive criticism. It does mean writing every day. It does mean continually producing new work and honing things. It does mean nodding when you receive rejection – and moving on.

It means a lot of waiting. That’s all right. I am meant to write, and I am in this for the long haul. Nothing will make me stop.

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

(By the way, I’ve been taking tons of pictures in NYC. Feel free to explore my Flickr account to view them!)

I am back home and about to make my one thousandth blog post. Life is sweet.

First of all, congratulations to Celine Chapus of PurpleTopHat.com, who has made it into Comic Con San Diego’s Artists’ Alley! This is a HUGE deal – entrance is by jury only, and tickets just for membership are sold out a year in advance. Woohoo!

Second of all, I am indeed home, as I said, and incredibly grateful to be. My husband and Celine came to fetch me, showing up as a complete surprise on Thursday night. I could not possibly be more grateful.

Speaking of Duane, he has a terrific possibility of a job in Keene, NH. The only downside? It would require moving. On the other hand, Keene is lovely, and we’d still be in NH, which is the goal. We shall see what happens!

So just for now, goodbye, Manhattan. Grandma is all right; my parents are there with her now, and that’s good. I don’t know if I need to take a turn with her again soon, though that might happen. It never rains, but it pours.

As for writing, book two is coming along well. Anybody want a completely random snippet?

( Snippet! )

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

MY HUSBAND IS COMING TO TAKE ME HOME ON FRIDAY! It’s utterly amazing how this knowledge has both sped up and slowed down time.

Of course, this also means I only have a few days left to take care of NYC business, which I shall complete in time – this I swear!

1. Finishing business for grandma that involves foot traffic she is no longer capable of doing.

2. Bugging the doormen of the building book #3 is set in until someone can answer my questions

3. Setting up the interview with the policewoman who’s said she’s willing to answer my questions about her job (again, for book #3). This is very, very fun.

On that note, fingers crossed that my beloved and I can find gainful employment soon. Gotta love recession. In conclusion, Random Dragon!

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

Four year old girl singing “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” at the top of her lungs.

Middle-aged man baying like a scent-hound on the escalator, followed by, “What, am I embarassing you?”

Saxaphone player in the street – very good.

Trumpet player in the street – not so good.

Puddles in the sidewalk due to rain, nearly every one occupied by happy, tiny children with water-proof boots.

The most gorgeous dreadlocks I’ve ever seen. I assure you everyone else who wears dreads is attempting this look.

Awesome words from grandma: “I’m talking corset, I’m not talking girdle.” You preach it, grandma.

Lastly, not seen in NYC, but just nifty:

(In case you can’t view it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

YES. Managed night-time time-lapse photography. No tripod, so it’s not perfect, but STILL!

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

Oh my word. Best birthday EVER.

Fit into a dress I haven’t been able to wear in 2 years.

Had fabulous dinner which included the words, “Why is this cooked mammal flesh so appealing to me?”

Neighbors gave me a “Writer’s Blockbuster Kit” which includes fantastic stickers for inspiration, notebooks of all sizes, giant fun pencils, and a shirt (which I am wearing in NYC): “Go Away or I’ll Kill You – In a Book.”

I am exhausted and ridiculously happy, which makes up for having to leave tomorrow. Gonna go take care of grandma, I am, I am.

Hope your day was as good as mine. :D

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

I forgot tomorrow was my birthday. This deserved a video.

http://flic.kr/p/7ePf4w

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

Because I just love the eye-candy.

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Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

I’m happy today. No, I don’t have a particular reason – nor do I need one. :)

Are you happy?

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

 
We are so doing a haunted farm tonight. In the meantime, however, have some links because they are intriguing!

Literary agent Nathan Bransford gives the basics on how to get an agent. Need more than the basics? Then read this article with advice from eleven different agents regarding what to do and not to do. I found this particularly informative, especially with the reminder that agents are individuals with individual taste and requirements.

Not quite ready to query? Then take Doyce Testerman’s interesting advice on writing without distractions  (even though he says not to).  He’s talking about Nanowrimo, but this can definitely be applied to anything.

Fair warning: this article is sort of depressing and encouraging at once. It’s depressing because yes, it is that hard to break into the industry right now, but encouraging because it means not every rejection you get means the agent/editor hated your work. It very often is just a question of not knowing how to market it for an enormous profit.

Remember: rejections don’t necessarily mean “you suck.” They do mean “not yet,” and “not yet” just gives you more time to hone your craft.

So what DO these agents do, anyway?  Here’s an article that clarifies. Oh, and agents aren’t the only ones with the power of rejection. Andy Warhol got rejected by the Musuem of Modern Art in NYC, and if that doesn’t make you giggle, then you have no soul.

Also, because I think the comic is funny and the writer has some good points: Letter to Twilight Bashers.

Enough jibber-jabber. Snippet time!

The blood on the threshold was fresh.

It glistened. Drops of it spattered the sides of the doorway as if its owner had shaken like a wet dog, and the long rusty door handles were slick and messy. Was it Caelan bleeding like that, dripping warm life away until he fell?

The doors were old wood, weather-worn and hung with decorative strap hinges that stretched across them like black iron vines. Alex wasn’t sure if he could break them. Instead he banged with his fist, shouting as loudly as he could. “Hey! Open up! Do you hear me? Open the door!”

An unshaven man did, looking highly alarmed. He also looked nearly human, but his eyes gave him away. The irises gleamed gold like an animal’s.

“Who is injured here?” Alex demanded, pointing at the threshold. “Answer me!”

“Aaah!” screamed the man, and slammed the door in his face.

Alex is not having a good day. :D

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

(This is mostly a pep-talk for myself. Feel free to skip it. However, it has pretty photos, so if you want to look at those, I say yay. :D)

See the writing in red up there? It is truth.

Some people have asked me why I’m on Twitter, and  one of the reasons is networking. See, it’s usually hard to connect with other authors because - let’s face it - authors have lives. They are, however, often accessible through Twitter, and they’re usually willing to talk about their writing process.

Know what I’ve learned from them? Writing is hard work.

It requires discipline.

It requires determination, sometimes in the face of very cruel criticism.

It requires reading other people, learning what works and what doesn’t and analyzing why.

It requires teachability – willingness to admit we don’t know what we’re doing, and willingness to learn.

Most of all, however, it requires a word that does not exist: notquittingness. Notquittingness defeats rejection. Notquittingness keeps the writer going and focused, regardless of support. Notquittingness allows the writer to say, “okay, this scene doesn’t work, and I’m going to find out why if it takes the rest of my life.”

Notquittingness is something I have in droves. Maybe it’ll take me more than a decade to get published, a la fabulous author Jay Lake. Maybe it won’t. Either way, I am notquitting all the way to the bookstore. 

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

It’s that time of year! If you want more of these, feel free to visit my Flickr photostream, or just take a peek at these photo collections:
Fall in New Hampshire and Small Local Graveyard

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.

I have no glasses, for lo, they have gone in for repair. Squinting is not fun. However, this post comes in four parts for your convenience, and hopefully has at least a smidgen of non-blurry fun.

1. Personal nonsense. ( Snip! )

2. Family stuff. ( Snip! )

3. Book stuff. ( Snip! )

4. Summary and Snippet!

And now, since you’ve been patient (or skipped past all my blabbering, which is perfectly acceptable), I am pleased to give you the query and a snippet for book two.

Summary (Simon Says, Guardian, book two):

The Wild Hunt’s erratic behavior is getting worse, and Owen is trying to bring the mythos together to fight them. Unfortunately, no one takes the Unseelie fey seriously anymore, and he’s being ignored – but not by all. Someone strange has begun to visit the children of the Unseelie fey, promising freedoms that lure them from their beds so they disappear without a trace. Alex, always protective, plans to save them all, but his efforts only seem to hinder the investigation. When his friend Caelan announces he wants to move away, it seems like Alex’s chance for a graceful exit, but Caelan doesn’t want him to come.

Being told he can’t help hurts Alex in a way he barely understands, so when the Tohu suddenly claim to have information about his father, he jumps at the bait. Every choice has consequences, and Alex thinks he’s counted the cost. Unfortunately, he has a lot more to lose than he knows.

Snippet (Simon Says, Guardian, book two):

Rumors fell like snow, splattering thick wet words that stuck to everything and made paths slick. They started small – mumbles in the marketplace, off-handed comments in human coffee-houses – but quickly, they grew, until not even the people who’d been there could quite believe what they’d seen.

“I always said the Tohu were after the Unseelie fey.”

“The Wild Hunt joined them – ”

“Joined them? Nobody joins the Hunt, bone-head.”

Then there was talk of a menagerie of horrors, obscure and obscene creatures Queen Mab had hidden for thousands of years before releasing them on the unsuspecting public.

“Owen Starbird, son of Mab herself. Set a manticore loose in the streets.”

“No, it was a sphinx. Thing pissed all over the palace.”

“Well, I heard it was a kikiyaon. You know, a soul-stealing owl?”

That one generally got a laugh.

The stories of long-dead queens and power grabs and monsters did not compare, however, to the mystery. Whispers said there was a boy involved. A boy with four wings, unknown among the mythos, and possessed of such beauty that no one who saw him could keep their heads clear. They said he was just a child. They said he could distract the hardest soldiers, turn the head of the most sensible patriarch, or steal the heart of anyone young enough to dream.

They also said he had power. Power that made crazy dead Mab take heed. Power that caught the attention of Notte, the Dark Drinker of All Who Live, that caught the attention of the Tohu themselves. Nobody knew what that power might be. It was strange and unfamiliar, even among all the diversity of the mythos.

Rumors fell like snow, thick and wet and splattering. It was only a matter of time before someone got too curious to wait for more.

Originally published at Ruthanne Reid, Author {Blog}. You can comment here or there.